SAP Enterprise Compensation Review Statement Confusion! Dang it!!

If anyone of you used compensation management in SAP HR version 4.7 extension one or earlier, you will know in the old version, the compensation statement is called “Total Compensation Statement”. In the new Enterprise Compensation Management, it is now called “Compensation Review Statement”.

To configure the SAP Enterprise Compensation Review Statement, you would need to access it in the configuration IMG @ SPRO -> Personnel Management -> Enterprise Compensation Management -> Compensation Statement.

You first have to define what to include in the Compensation Review Statement for calculation. You will do this at the “Determine Structure for Total Compensation Statement”. The next piece is to determine what wage types contain the values you tell it to include in the “Select Wage Type for Pay Category”.

At the “Create Form For Total Compensation Statement”, you will be working with Smartform to design the layout of the form used when printing the statement. Enterprise Compensation Statement uses the form “HR_ECM_CRS”, no to be confused with “HR_CMP_TCS” used by the old Compensation Management.

After you completed the first 3 steps outlined above, the 4^th step is where the confusion begins. In the old Compensation Management, you could determine what form to used by the “Total Compensation Statement” report through an entry in T77S0. If you are access it via the IMG, it is called “Determine Standard Form For Total Compensation Statement”. The problem is, this exact structure is available in both the Enterprise Compensation Management and the old Compensation Management. It is pointing to the exact same entry.

In the Compensation Review Statement (Program: RHECM_PRINT_CRS, Transaction: PECM_PRINT_CRS), used by Enterprise Compensation Management, SAP hardcode in what form to use, which is HR_ECM_CRS in their code. So you CAN NOT select what form to use if you happen to design your own form.

Due to this, you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If you are implementing SAP, you will hear numerous times not to change standard SAP code and always make a “Z” copy of what you want to change and use the “Z” version. In this case, you would have to modify one of the two standard codes. You have to either modify the include statement in the RHECM_PRINT_CRS code to remove “NO-DISPLAY” in the selection parameter to allow the selection screen to show what form it is defaulting and have the user select the right form. Another option is to change the default form from HR_ECM_CRS to whatever “Z” form you created.

The second method is to not change the standard program code, but go ahead and modify the HR_ECM_CRS form. Make a copy of it to “Z” to be used as backup, but use the main HR_ECM_CRS as being the main form you’ve modified.

I so hope SAP release an OSS Note to fix this.

SAP & RFID?

A friend and former co-worker of mine asked me if I have heard of RFID. I recall seeing a special about it on ABC News a few nights earlier around RFID. To my knowledge RFID is a Radio Frequency Identifier, used as a single sign on method. The news was about a man who had implanted a small transmitter in his hand to assist him in accessing places where he would normally have to carry keys. He is able to access his car, his office, his home, and even assist with signing on to anyone of his multiple computers.

But what does that mean for SAP, she asked me. Upon researching it, I came across an article (http://www.sapinsideronline.com/searchspi/search.htm?page=article&key=38942&query_text=RFID) talking about it at a high level. It occurred to me, this is an awesome technology.

Look at it this way, the old method of barcode scanning require you to see the barcode and see the actual product you are scanning. Taking it to another level, if this were to be used by UPS, FED EX, or even the airline industry where they tag your item with a barcode. But if they can't see the barcode, they can't see your product.

Using a radio frequency tagging method, they can track your item w/o having to see it or know where it is. No more lost items or baggage! But that also mean another thing, think of 1984 where they know exactly where you are at. Similar to Martha Stewart and her ankle bracelet in recent events. In either case, if used correctly like everything else, this would be a very interesting technology. Only time will tell....